12 reasons to go to Southport Food and Drink Festival

This is definitely one to whet your appetite – because if you like good food and drink, then you’ll love this!

Southport Food and Drink Festival is going to be bigger and better than ever this year, with more than 150 traders and exhibitors set to fill Victoria Park and new and exciting things for 2025.

So if you want to feast on a fabulous weekend, here’s 12 reasons to get it in your diary now.

Three days of food and fun

Southport Food and Drink Festival is on from Friday, May 30 to Sunday, June 1, so there’s plenty of time to take advantage of all the great things on offer – because if you don’t get to see and do everything in one day (and chances are you won’t) you can go back again … and again! It runs from 10am to 6pm every day.

Victoria Park location

The festival is set in the beautiful gardens and green space of Victoria Park and you can find it just off the main esplanade so it’s easy to get to – slap back in the centre of town.

It’s free

Okay, so you may have to get your wallet out to pay for all the delicious goodies you’ll want to buy, or some of the new experiences, but entrance into the Southport Food and Drink Festival will cost you absolutely nothing.

It’s a foodies’ paradise

With food from around the world – and around the corner – there’s something for everyone. You can stimulate the senses and a taste for adventure with street food from different cultures  including crepes, gourmet burgers, hot wings, churros, spiral potatoes, paella, Dutch pancakes, tacos, Pad Thai and curry; sample handmade cheeses, sweet and savoury pies, chutneys and pickles (that you can buy to take home!), and enjoy a celebration of traditional British food – think more homemade pies, chutneys, local sausages, hog roast, ice cream from a local dairy, and more.

Raise a glass – or cup – to a great event

There’ll be 18 bars across the site, serving cocktails, craft ales, wines, ciders, and world beers; as well as coffee roasters including returning favourites like Thanks a Latte and Clouds in My Coffee.

Keeping it fresh

Among the new traders for 2025 are: Lids – serving artisan pies; JT Akshaya – specialising in Indian dosa; Cove – offering matcha drinks and acai bowls; The Shippy Chippy – classic fish and chips, and La Petite Café – a container coffee unit with rooftop seating.

Let them entertain you 

Throughout the weekend the entertainment arena will host local bands and musicians. Adding to the festival atmosphere will be choirs, dance troupes, ukulele bands, and vocalists like Gemma Doyle.

The kids are included

Southport Food and Drink festival isn’t just for the grown-ups! Of course the kids’ll love the food and drink too – but they’ll also love the fun and activities created just for them, like face painting; teddy tombola; inflatables, and crafts and storytelling at the Pebbles & Treasures Children’s Festival.

Superb stalls

As well as entertainment there’s a whole host of stalls selling lovely hand-crafted items from jewellery, wood carvings, fashion accessories, and wellbeing items. (Better make sure you take a bag to put everything in!).

The Experience Marquee is new this year!

Hosting intimate sessions for up to 18 guests per event, the Experience Marquee is new this year with loads of great things to try and do, from cheese and wine pairings to beer and whisky tastings and cake decorating masterclasses.

On Friday, for example (1pm-1.45pm) you can try a Food & Wine Pairing Experience for £10 with Sefton-based wine columnist and educator Jane Clare’s One Foot In The Grapes which includes a glass of fizz on arrival; on Saturday (12noon-1pm) you could create your own culinary collage with Southport-based community artist and Illustrator, Emmy Oranges, for £15, and on Sunday (4-4.45pm), you could join a Southport Whisky Club Tasting. For £15, Peter and Victor will take you through four whiskys, each with their own taste and flavour profile.

If you go by car, it’s easy to park

Parking’s available in Princes Park for just £5 or at the Esplanade Pay & Display Car Park for £5.50 – and that’s for the whole day.

40,000 people can’t be wrong

Southport Food and Drink Festival always draws the crowds and this year it’s set to attract more people than ever. So if you want to join them – and why wouldn’t you with all this going on?! – head to Victoria Park from May 30-June 1.

For more information, visit the Southport Food & Drink Festival website.

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